240 ARTICULATIONS OF THE VERTEBRA. 



is a small ligament, called the middle straight ligament (liga- 

 mentum medium rectum,) which passes from the tip of the 

 dentated process, to be inserted on the inner face of the 

 occipital foramen between the insertion of the moderator liga- 

 ments. 



From the anterior margin of the great occipital foramen, a 

 ligament passes down on tfye inside of the vertebral cavity, 

 over the tooth-like process, which is inserted in the body of 

 the vertebra dentata, and the ligaments connected with it. 

 This ligament is composed of a number of fibrous bands called 

 by Caldani, lacerti ligamentosi. This must be dissected away 

 before the moderator and transverse ligaments can be brought 

 into view. See fig. 52. It is now more appropriately named 

 the occipito-axoid ligament. 



Fig. 52.* There is also a ligament 



which runs across from one 

 side of the atlas to the other, 

 to confine the tooth-like process 

 in its anterior cavity, see fig. 

 51, page 239, (transverse liga- 

 ment, ligamentum transversale 

 atlantis.) This ligament ad- 

 heres above to the occipital 

 bone, and below to the body of 

 the vertebra dentata. The anterior surface of the tooth-like 

 process plays on the anterior arch of the atlas ; the posterior 

 surface plays on this ligament. A synovial capsule is placed 

 on each surface of the tooth-lie process. 



From the middle of this transverse ligament a band of fibres 

 extend downward to the vertebra below, giving a cruciform 

 arrangement to the ligament. See fig. 52. 



* The upper part of the vertebral canal, opened from behind in order to show 

 the occipito-axoid ligament. J . The basilar portion of the sphenoid bone. 2. 

 Section of the occipital bone. 3. The atlas, its posterior arch removed. 4. The 

 axis, the posterior arch also removed. 5. The occipito-axoid ligament, rendered 

 prominent at its middle by the projection of the odontoid process. 6. Lateral 

 and capsular ligament of the occipito-atloid articulation. 7. Capsular ligament 

 between the articulating processes of the atlas and axis. 



